Longitudinal adjustment device notably for ski bindings

ABSTRACT

This device for the fine adjustment of the relative longitudinal position of two elements one element being fixed and the other movable, more particularly in the case of a ski binding in relation to a ski, permits at the same time the change from one range of fine adjustment limits to another by combining a worm and rack mechanism, with a knee-action locking mechanism, the worm utilized in this device comprises a shaft having one end engaged in a universal bearing and the other end adapted to be actuated for engaging and disengaging said knee-action locking mechanism relative to the fixed companion locking member carried by the fixed element, and thus permit the change from one range of fine adjustment to another, on the one hand, and rotating said shaft for producing said fine adjustment, on the other hand.

United States Patent [1 1 Beyl [451 Jul 29, 1975 1 1 LONGITUDINALADJUSTMENT DEVICE NOTABLY FOR SKI BINDINGS [76] Inventor: Jean JosephAlfred Beyl, l0, Blvd. Victor Hugo, 58 Nevers (Nievre), France [22]Filed: Nov. 5, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 412,658

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Nov. 20, 1972 France 72.41180[52] US. Cl. 280/ll.35 T; 280/11.35 R [51] Int. Cl. A63C 9/22 [58] FieldOf Search 280/1135 R, 11.35 T, 280/1135 D, 11.35 A; 74/425,426,424.8 A:297/361 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,226,158 12/1965Strien et a1. 297/361 3,361,435 1/1968 I-lvam 280/1135 T 3,604,7209/1971 Reuge et al. 280/1135 T 3,774,925 11/1973 Jungkind 74/4248 B3,810,644 5/1974 Beyl 280/1135 T Primary Examiner--David SchonbergAssistant Examiner-David M. Mitchell Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Bierman &Bierman [57] ABSTRACT This device for the fine adjustment of therelative longitudinal position of two elements one element being fixedand the other movable, more particularly in the case of a ski binding inrelation to a ski, permits at the same time the change from one range offine adjustment limits to another by combining a worm and rackmechanism, with a knee-actiion locking mechanism, the worm utilized inthis device comprises a shaft having one end engaged in a universalbearing and the other end adapted to be actuated for engaging anddisengaging said knee-action locking mechanism relative to the fixedcompanion locking member carried by the fixed element, and thus permitthe change from one range of fine adjustment to another, on the onehand, and rotating said shaft for producing said fine adjustment, on theother hand.

8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures 5b 2b b 17 3 a t V PATENTEU JUL 2 91975SHEET LONGITUDINAL ADJUSTMENT DEVICE NOTABLY FOR SKI BINDINGS Thepresent invention is directed to an improved device for adjusting therelative position of fastening elements or members in the longitudinaldirection, notably toe or heel holding members of ski bindings, thisdevice comprising an adjustment member movably mounted on the bindingelement to be moved in rela tion to the ski, said adjustment memberbeing constantly kept in meshing engagement with an adjustment rackrigid with the ski.

Many versions of devices of this general character are already known.Thus, one of these known devices consists in disposing, in the bindingelement to be adjusted or in a binding device to be adjusted in a skibinding assembly, a worm having a fixed axial position and its axissubstantially parallel to the ski, this worm being adapted to beactuated from the outside and meshing with a rack rigid with the ski.Rotating the worm in one or the other direction will causes anadjustment of the position of the ski binding member in the longitudinaldirection. Now a serious inconvenience of this known device is that saidworm must be rotated to a considerable extent when adjusting the skibinding for different ski-boot sizes in order to move the ski bindingmember relatively great distances. This device is objectionable onaccount of the considerable loss of time deriving from its use. Anotherdrawback of this known device lies in the fact that premature weardevelops at the points of meshing engagement between the worm and rack,due to the constant stress generated during the actual skiing periods,this wear being attended by an excessive play between the two meshingmembers. This is felt unpleasantly by the skier since it interferesdirectly with a safe and precise ski steering action.

To avoid this inconvenience, it has already been proposed to incorporatea spring in the worm mounting within the binding casing. Thus, in fact,the wear developing between the worm and rack is at least partiallycompensated and this spring is also useful for improv ing thelongitudinal flexibility of the ski binding. But also in this case theadjustment of the ski binding on ski boots corresponding to differentsizes constitutes a tedious, time-robbing operation.

On the other hand, longitudinal adjustment devices of this general typeare also known wherein a locking member rigid with the ski bindingco-acts with a section member rigid with the ski, said locking memberbeing spring-urged, if necessary. Thus, this locking-member may bebrought manually out of engagement with the section member, so that thebinding can be moved rapidly for relatively great distances. In fact,this device is advantageous in that it permits a rapid adjustment, butit suffers from the serious drawback of excluding any fine adjustmentwhen the locking member is locked in position on the section member ofrack. Since the notches of this rack cannot be closely spaced forreasons of mechanical strength, the accurate adjustment of the skibinding with respect to the boot size becomes uncertain or is obtainedonly in case of fortuitous coincidence. But under normal conditions thisadjustment is only of approximate value. To obtain a perfect adjustmentbetween the locking member and the section member or rack associatedtherewith, the movable.

binding element must be either pushed beyond normal limits against theboot, or moved slightly away there from. As a result, the bootadjustment in the ski binding is either too tight or too loose. In thefirst case this may interfere with the proper operation or release ofthe safety ski binding, and in the other case the skiing pre cision maybe impaired. To avoid this inconvenience, compensating mechanisms ofrelatively complicated construction must be provided, thus making theski binding more sophisticated and increasing considerably itsmanufacturing cost. It is the essential object of the present inventionto provide a longitudinal adjustment device of the type broadly setforth hereinabove, wherein, while avoiding all the inconveniences ofknown devices, a rapid advance, a reliable locking action and thenecessary fine adjustment of the ski binding are combined into a singledevice by using particularly simple means.

The solution of the problem set forth hereinabove is brought by thepresent invention by mounting for free movement the adjustment member ofthe corresponding ski binding element in a bearing member of the skibinding element and at a point somewhat spaced from said bearing member,said adjustment member being adapted to be locked either in a firstposition in which said adjustment member is in meshing engagement withthe adjustment section member or rack, or in another position in whichsaid adjustment member is disconnected from said adjustment sectionmember or rack, said adjustment member further comprising fineadjustment means adjustable in the aforesaid first position in whichsaid adjustment member is in meshing engagement with said adjustmentsection member or rack.

With the arrangement according to this invention, when fitting oradjusting the ski binding on a ski boot, for example in ski hiringsystems, the ski binding element (i.e., either the toe abutment or theheel holddown device) can be moved rapidly for a relatively greatdistance in order to perform a first, rough adjustment whereafter theski binding element is locked to the adjustment section or rack. Then,the final and necessary fine adjustment may be effected by actuating theadjustment member now in meshing engagement with said adjustment sectionor rack, but only for short adjustment movements. According to aparticularly simple and advantageous embodiment of this invention, thearrangement is such that the bearing member provided on the ski bindingelement is a universal bearing in which the adjustment member can pivot,rotate and slide longitudinally in the direction of the longitudinalaxis of the ski, a spacer spring. being disposed between this adjustmentmember and this bearing member.

However, for the adjustment many other alternative embodiments may becontemplated. Thus, it may be useful according to this invention thatthe adjustment member comprising the rough adjustment means incorporatesa base member adapted to be anchored or engaged into a perforated platerigid with the ski, together with a worm mechanism for the fineadjustment of the position of the ski binding element in relation to thebase plate mounted on said perforated plate for use after performingsaid rapid advance or feed, the axis of the worm mechanism being mountedin the bearing contemplated on the ski binding element.

According to another modified embodiment of this invention it is furthercontemplated that the adjustment member consists, for fine adjustmentpurposes, of a worm rigidly secured to a shaft rotatably mounted in thebearing provided to this end in the ski binding element, and theadjustment section member rigid with the ski consists of a toothed rackmeshing with said worm, this arrangement being particularly advantageousif the spacer spring interposed between the worm or the worm mechanismon the one hand and the fixed bearing of the rotary shaft on the otherhand urges said worm or worm mechanism on one side and the ski bindingelement in the bearing portion on the other side, at least with one end,at a point located above a horizontal plane parallel to the ski andcontaining the axis of said rotary shaft.

Other advantages, details and features characterising this inventionwill appear as the following description proceeds with reference to theaccompanying drawing, in which typical embodiment of the invention areshown. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic axial section of a longitudinal adjustmentdevice according to this invention",

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section showing another embodiment of thedevice of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section showing a still further possibleembodiment of the device of this invention;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section showing the device of FIG. 3 with theadjustment member disconnected from the rack to permit a rapid advanceof the ski binding element;

FIG. 5 is an end view of the device of FIG. 3, and

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic longitudinal section showing another possibleembodiment of the fine adjustment means according to this invention.

The longitudinal adjustment device according to this invention, notablyand principally for ski bindings, comprises essentially an adjustmentsection member 1 secured to the ski in the longitudinal directionthereof and a binding element 2 movable in a direction parallel to thelongitudinal direction of the adjustment section member 1 but constantlyheld down on the ski. An adjustment member 3 adapted to be operativelyconnected and disconnected in relation to the adjustment section member1 is disposed within the binding element 2 and adapted to be stopped orlocked at least in several defined positions.

In the embodiment illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 1 the adjustmentsection member 1 consists of a rack secured for example by means ofscrews to the top face of the. ski. This rack I may be formedintegrally, or associated with, a plate constituting the base plate ofthe binding element so that the latter can move longitudinally as shownin FIG. 5 without allowing this binding element to be lifted in relationto the ski.

The adjustment member 3 is mounted in the binding element 2 by means ofa shaft 4 to which a worm 5 is rigidly secured. This shaft 4 is disposedwithin a bearing 6 formed in the binding element 2 so that it can rotatefreely. In this respect, it may be noted that in the presentspecification the term bearing is used in its broadest meaning. In thebearing 6 the corresponding end 7 of shaft 4 is so mounted that it canmove or swivel freely in all directions therein. At its opposite end 8projecting from the ski binding element 2 to permit the actuation ofsaid shaft 4, the latter is mounted in a manner permitting the movementand locking thereof with respect to the binding element 2 in at leasttwo spaced positions. As shown in FIG. 1, a notch 9 visible moreparticularly in FIG. 2 is provided to permit this movable mounting sothat the shaft 4 can pivot or tilt about its fixed bearing 6 in a planeat right angles to the ski, which comprises the axis of the adjustmentsection member 1.

At its control end 8 the shaft 4 comprises a pivot member 10 co-actingwith the fork of a link 11 pivotally mounted to the binding element 2about a pin 12 so that said link, can move in the plane of the drawing(FIG. 1). Preferably, two such links 11 are provided which are adapted,through the medium of their forks disposed on either side of shaft 4, toco-act with the pivot member 10 so disposed on said shaft 4 that it canrotate freely thereon while being held against axial movement. Since theforks and/or the pivot member engage at the end of their stroke a firstor lower stop provided on the ski binding element 2, a first lowerposition of shaft 4 is thus determined, in which the worm 5 is inmeshing engagement with the rack 1.

By pivoting said shaft 4 upwards in the bearing 6 the link 11 willassume another or upper position remote from the adjustment rack 1, asshown in phantom lines in FIG. 1. In this position the link and/or pivotmember resume again their engagement with a stop carried by the bindingelement 2, the worm 2 being then disconnected from the rack 1.

These two positions of link 11 are made stable by a spacer spring 13consisting preferably of a coil compression spring interposed betweenthe worm 5 and the fixed bearing 6, and surrounding the shaft 4, thusproviding a knee-action mechanism.

The operation of the above-described longitudinal adjustment deviceaccording to this invention will now be described with particularreference to its application to a heel hold-down device of a skibinding. However this invention should not be construed as being limitedto this specific application.

From the initial position assumed to be that shown in FIG. 1, in whichthe worm 5 is in meshing engagement with the rack l, the ski binding isto be subsequently adapted to a ski-boot of different size. To this end,the control end 8 of shaft 4 is actuated by rotating same against theforce of spring 13 from the lower stable position (FIG. 1) to the upperstable position in which said worm 5 is disconnected from the rack 1(FIG. 1, phantom lives). Then, the heel hold-down device 2 can be movedrapidly towards the boot heel, and when the contact is obtained betweenthis device and the boot heel the shaft 4 is pivoted downwards torestore the meshing engagement between the worm 5 and rack 1. Finally,by rotating the control end 8 of shaft 4 the fine adjustment of the heelhold-down device can be performed in relation to the boot heel.

The spring 13 may also act as a means for imparting a certainlongitudinal flexibility to the ski binding; this may be quiteadvantageous in case of abnormal flexing of the ski, notably whenso-called step-in heel hold down devices are used. During this flexingthe boot tends to move the heel hold-down device 2 to the right as seenin FIG. 1. As the worm 5 is in meshing engagement with the rack -1, theheel hold-down device can move to the right only against the force ofspring 13 and through a limited extent only. During this elasticlongitudinal movement the open coupling between the forks of links 11and the pivot member 10 on shaft 4 permits this relative movement. Underthese conditions, the construction must be such that the forks and thepivot member cannot become disconnected completely underanycircumstance. After this ski flexing the spring 13 pushes the heelhold-down device 2 for wards, i.e.,'to the left as seen in FIG. 1, sothat a precise adjustment with respect to the ski boot is constantlymaintained, the available spring stroke is constant -and independent ofthe adjustment position of the heel hold-down device 2 in relation tothe adjustment section member 1 rigid with the ski.

FIG. 2 illustrates another embodiment of the device of this invention.In this figure the members identical with or corresponding to those ofthe preceding embodiment are designated by the same reference numeralsplus the index letter a. In this alternate embodiment the correspondingadjustment member 3a consisting likewise ofa worm 5a is locked not by alink or kneeaction mechanism but by a male member 14 rigid with shaft 4and co-acting with at least two female members spaced from each other onthe heel hold-down element 211.

When it is desired to modify the position of the longitudinal adjustmentdevice according to this invention for changing from the position shownin FIG. 2 to the rapid-advance position, the control end 8a of shaft 4ais gripped and depressed against the resistance of spring 13a so as todisengage the male member 14 from the lower female member 15, whereafterthe shaft 4a is moved upwards until said male member 14 engages theother or upper female member 15. Then, after a rapid longitudinalmovement of the ski binding element 2a the shaft 4a is restored to itsinitial lower position and rotated to obtain the desired fineadjustment.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2 a relative movement between theheel hold down or like binding element 2a and the adjustment section lamay also take place. In this case the male member 14 will bedisconnected completely from the corresponding female member 15. Infact, the pressure between the thread surfaces of worm 5a and rack laprevents an untimely disconnection between said worm and rack. However,in order to ensure a still better safety against any untimely release ofthe worm 5a, said spring 13a, at least at its end adjacent the bearing6a, may bear against this bearing at a point located above the shaft 4a.This bearing action may be obtained very simply by off-setting, asillustrated in FIG. 2, the lower half of bearing 6a to the left inrelation to its upper half. Due to this bearing force of spring 13a atorque is constantly exerted on the worm 5a whereby the latter is urgedfor meshing engagement with the rack la.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate another modified embodiment of the inventionwherein the component elements identical with or'similar to those of thepreceding embodiments are designated by the same reference numeral plusthe index letter b. In this embodiment the male retaining member 14b ofshaft 4b consists of the respective end portion of worm 5b. This end isshaped and adapted to engage either of a pair of curved notches l6 and17 formed in the registering portion of the binding element 2b. Thefirst notch 16 sets the position of worm 5b, in which the latter is inproper meshing engagement with rack lb, the other notch 17 setting theposition of worm 5b, in which the latter is fully disconnected from therack lb to permit the rapid advance of the binding element 2b. The firstnotch 16 is characterised in that its shape and/or position are selectedaccording to this invention with a view to hold the worm 5b in propermeshing engagement with the rack Ib under a certain elastic load. Theother notch 17 is so designed that the worm 5b be held through its maleportion 14b in its upper position by self-locking action during therapid advance of said binding element 2b. In this specific embodimentthe disposal and mode of operation of spring 13b are the same as in theembodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2. To facilitate the fine adjustment, theshaft 4b comprises at its outer end a gripping knob 8b. It is readilyapparent from FIG. 4 that, for the position illustrated of adjustmentmember 3b in relation to the adjustment section lb the binding member 2bcan be advanced rapidly in the direction of the double arrow F.

FIG. 5 illustrates another advantageous detail of this invention.Whereas the notch 9b provided for tilting the shaft 4b must be wideenough to permit the free movement of this shaft, it may be particularlyadvantageous to provide this notch 9b with an open lower end tofacilitate considerably the: mounting of adjustment member 3b in thebinding element 2; furthermore, in this case this adjustment member 3bcan easily be replaced in case of wear or damage.

FIG. 6 illustrates diagrammatically another form of embodiment of theadjustment member of the device of this invention. In order to permit afine adjustment, of still greater precision, after the rapid advancemovement, if necessary, the corresponding adjustment member 3c is madein this case of three elements comprising a base member 18 shaped topermit the coupling thereof with the adjustment section lc or thedisengagement thereof from this section 1c to effect the rapid advance.The adjustment section 1c rigid with the ski (not shown) consists inthis case and preferably of a perforated plate comprising a series ofspaced holes 19 disposed along the ski center line, the base member 18being adapted to be coupled with this plate by engaging one or morestuds 20 projecting from its bottom surface into the aforesaid holes 19.Projecting from the upper face of base member 18 is a bearing 21 inwhich the shaft 4c is rotatably mounted and held against axial movementby a shoulder 22. This shaft 40 is mounted in or on the ski bindingelement 2c in the manner described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

On either side of shoulder 22 the shaft 40 comprises threaded portions23 engaging tapped holes 24 formed in a sliding member 25. This member25 disposed straddlewise on said bearing 21 of base member 18 and isadapted to be moved micrometrically in'relation to said base membereither to the left or to the right, as seen in FIG. 6, by rotating theshaft 4c in the proper direction. Said sliding member 25 comprises atone end a projection 14c adapted to engage a female member 15c formed onthe ski binding element 20 in the manner described hereinabove. At itsopposite end the sliding member 25 has a bearing face engageable by acoil compression spring 13c of which the arrangement and mode ofoperation are also known from the description of the preceding forms ofembodiment. In the construction shown in FIG. 6 for the fine adjustmentto be performed on the member 3c, it is advantageous to so select themicrometric adjustment stroke of sliding member 25 on either side ofshoulder 21 of shaft 4: in relation to the base member 18 that, oneither side of a symmetrical position of said sliding member in relationto said base member, the total fine-adjustment stroke be slightlygreater than the distance measured between two adjacent aligned holes 19of the perforated plate 1c. Thus, the range of adjustment applicable tothe binding element along the adjustment section is covered completelyby combining the rapid advance and fine adjustment operations.

Of course, the invention should not be construed as being strictlylimited by the specific embodiments illustrated and described herein,since many constructional modifications may be contemplated by thoseskilled in the art without departing from the basic principle of thisinvention. Thus, a device wherein the adjustment member is rigid withthe ski and the adjustment section is disposed on the binding elementmay be provided while achieving the same result.

'What I claim is:

1. A ski binding comprising an adjustment section member means adaptedto be fixedly mounted on a ski; a fastening element means for releasablyretaining one end of a ski boot on the ski, said fastening element meansbeing adapted to be mounted on the adjustment section member means, saidfastening element means being relatively moveable along a selecteddirection with respect to said adjustment section member means; saidfastening element means further comprising a bearing and an adjustmentmember means, said adjustment member means being carried by saidfastening element means and mounted for free movement in said bearing;complementary fine adjustment means on said adjustment member means andon said adjustment section member means for permitting fine adjustment,in

said selected direction, of the position of said fastening element meanswith respect to the adjustment section member means, said complementaryfine adjustment means being disconnectable from each other to permitrelative coarse adjustment of the relative positions of said fasteningelement means and said adjustment section member means, said adjustmentmember means being moveable between a first position in which saidcomplementary fine adjustment means are operatively interconnected forpermitting relative fine adjustment of the said fastening element meansand said adjustment section member means, and a second position in whichsaid complementary means are disconnected from each other andinoperative; and locking means releasably and firmly retaining the saidadjustment member means in the first position and the second position.

2. The ski binding according to claim 1 wherein said locking meanscomprises a pair of vertically spaced notches on said fastening elementmeans adjacent the end of the adjustment member means spaced from saidbearing, the lower notch being engaged by the adjacent end of theadjustment member means when said adjustment member means is in saidfirst position, said locking means further comprising means forresiliently urging said adjustment member means toward said notches.

" 3. The ski binding according to claim 1 wherein said adjustment membermeans is pivotably, rotatably and slidably mounted in said bearing.

4. The ski binding according to claim 2 in which said adjustment membermeans is a shaft, a toothed worm fixedly mounted on said shaft, saidadjustment section member means having teeth thereon for mating with theteeth on said worm when said adjustment member means is in said secondposition, said toothed worm and the teeth on said adjustment sectionmember means comprising said complementary fine adjustment means.

5. The ski binding according to claim 4 wherein said resilient means isa spacer spring one end of which abuts said bearing and the other end ofwhich abuts said worm.

6. The ski binding according to claim 5 wherein the lower notch isshaped to direct and maintain said adjustment member means in said firstposition upon urging of said resilient means to firmly cause saidcomplementary fine adjustment means to engage.

7. The ski binding according to claim 1 wherein said fastening elementmeans further comprises means for moving the said adjustment membermeans between said first and second positions.

8. A ski binding comprising a fastening element means and an adjustmentsection member means, said adjustment section member means adapted to befixedly mounted on a ski; said fastening element means for releasablyretaining one end of a ski boot on the ski, said fastening element meansbeing moveable with respect to said adjustment section member means,said fastening element means having a bearing therein and an adjustmentmember means articulated in said bearing, complementary cooperating fineadjustment means on said adjustment member means and said adjustmentsection member means, and means on said fastening element meansreleasably locking said adjustment member means in a first position inwhich said complementary fine adjustment means are engaged to permitfine adjustment of the position of the fastening element means on saidadjustment section member means, and in a second position in which thecomplementary fine adjustment means are disengaged to permit freesliding movement of the fastening element means on said adjustmentsection member means.

1. A ski binding comprising an adjustment section member means adaptedto be fixedly mounted on a ski; a fastening element means for releasablyretaining one end of a ski boot on the ski, said fastening element meansbeing adapted to be mounted on the adjustment section member means, saidfastening element means being relatively moveable along a selecteddirection with respect to said adjustment section member means; saidfastening element means further comprising a bearing and an adjustmentmember means, said adjustment member means being carried by saidfastening element means and mounted for free movement in said bearing;complementary fine adjustmenT means on said adjustment member means andon said adjustment section member means for permitting fine adjustment,in said selected direction, of the position of said fastening elementmeans with respect to the adjustment section member means, saidcomplementary fine adjustment means being disconnectable from each otherto permit relative coarse adjustment of the relative positions of saidfastening element means and said adjustment section member means, saidadjustment member means being moveable between a first position in whichsaid complementary fine adjustment means are operatively interconnectedfor permitting relative fine adjustment of the said fastening elementmeans and said adjustment section member means, and a second position inwhich said complementary means are disconnected from each other andinoperative; and locking means releasably and firmly retaining the saidadjustment member means in the first position and the second position.2. The ski binding according to claim 1 wherein said locking meanscomprises a pair of vertically spaced notches on said fastening elementmeans adjacent the end of the adjustment member means spaced from saidbearing, the lower notch being engaged by the adjacent end of theadjustment member means when said adjustment member means is in saidfirst position, said locking means further comprising means forresiliently urging said adjustment member means toward said notches. 3.The ski binding according to claim 1 wherein said adjustment membermeans is pivotably, rotatably and slidably mounted in said bearing. 4.The ski binding according to claim 2 in which said adjustment membermeans is a shaft, a toothed worm fixedly mounted on said shaft, saidadjustment section member means having teeth thereon for mating with theteeth on said worm when said adjustment member means is in said secondposition, said toothed worm and the teeth on said adjustment sectionmember means comprising said complementary fine adjustment means.
 5. Theski binding according to claim 4 wherein said resilient means is aspacer spring one end of which abuts said bearing and the other end ofwhich abuts said worm.
 6. The ski binding according to claim 5 whereinthe lower notch is shaped to direct and maintain said adjustment membermeans in said first position upon urging of said resilient means tofirmly cause said complementary fine adjustment means to engage.
 7. Theski binding according to claim 1 wherein said fastening element meansfurther comprises means for moving the said adjustment member meansbetween said first and second positions.
 8. A ski binding comprising afastening element means and an adjustment section member means, saidadjustment section member means adapted to be fixedly mounted on a ski;said fastening element means for releasably retaining one end of a skiboot on the ski, said fastening element means being moveable withrespect to said adjustment section member means, said fastening elementmeans having a bearing therein and an adjustment member meansarticulated in said bearing, complementary cooperating fine adjustmentmeans on said adjustment member means and said adjustment section membermeans, and means on said fastening element means releasably locking saidadjustment member means in a first position in which said complementaryfine adjustment means are engaged to permit fine adjustment of theposition of the fastening element means on said adjustment sectionmember means, and in a second position in which the complementary fineadjustment means are disengaged to permit free sliding movement of thefastening element means on said adjustment section member means.